What is damaged when starter won't disengage?

[BigShelby]

As I had posted previously, my starter doesn't disengage properly when it is below 30F only on the first start of the day. It makes a grinding noise.

My question is will any damege be done to the flywheel or other parts or is it just the starter thats internally self destructing? If it's just the starter I will let this go until the starter is dead, if other parts are at risk then I will replace it pronto. Thanks.

[SLeepr]

It's possible that the bendix is not retracting and the starter should be replaced. Another possibility could be the ignition switch is bad, leaving the car in start mode.

[BigShelby]

Only acts up when cold. Would the switch be effected by cold weather?

[SLeepr]

Not really sure, to tell you the truth. It never gets that cold here. However, with problems like this, intermittent ends up becoming consistent.

[BigShelby]

Will this hangup of the starter damage anything but the starter is my real concerm?

[Dach]

Just the teeth on the flywheel possibly. I wouldn't let it go if I were you. Get a junker if you're that tight for $ right now.

[Dach]

Here's a cheap one on ebay...http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2452617309

[BigShelby]

I was thinking the same about the flywheel as well. Looks like its time for rebuild/replacement. Thanks for the suggestions.

[wolfman]

If the starter spins and grinds (BUZZZZZ!!!) but does not engage the flywheel and turn the engine, the bendix drive is not fully EXTENDING to mesh the drive gear with the flywheel before the starter trys to turn it. This tends to start to occur in cold whether as the "barberpole" gear on the bendix drives shaft has a thin layer of grease on it than can become contaminated over time (esp in manual transaxle cars because of dust from the clutch disk). When it gets cold, this contaminated grease and goo thickens up and prevents the drive from moving freely. SOMETIMES, you can remove the starter and just clean the drive with some degreaser and then apply a THIN coating of wheel bearing grease to bring it back to life for quite a while (has worked for me on more than one occasion) BUT, if you wait too long, you'll chew up the drive gear and be looking at starter replacement as an only option. SOMETIMES, "bumping" (quickly engaging and disengaging the starter) can get a "lazy" bendix to work when you finally try to leave it engaged to start the car. This by no means should be considered as an alternative to fixing it however!